Hot Topics:

U.S. attorney: Chambersburg tax preparer threatens witness

Staff report

Updated:
01/17/2014 04:58:18 PM EST

Harrisburg >> A Chambersburg woman has been charged in federal court with tampering with a witness in connection with a criminal case alleging she attempted to drive a competing tax service out of business.

A federal grand jury on Wednesday handed up an indictment charging Maria Colvard, 48, with two counts of tampering with a witness. She owns Tax Max LLC, a tax preparation service.

The charges were added to those of extortion, aiding and abetting false personation of an employee of the United States, and interference with commerce by threats. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced all of the charges on Friday.

U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said that between Feb. 22 and May 10, Colvard convinced an employee, Merarys Paulino, also known as Labella Williams, to claim to be a criminal investigator with the Internal Revenue Service. Paulino was to collect alleged taxes owed, gain a client list from a rival tax preparation business and to ultimately shut down the York County business, Christina's Tax Service LLC.

Colvard was first indicted in June 2013, arrested and ordered released pending trial. The first superseding indictment against her was filed in November.

Advertisement

Colvard allegedly offered her employee $50,000 if she would take responsibility for the underlying crimes without cooperating with law enforcement or involving Colvard, according to Smith. Colvard on Jan. 6 allegedly went to the business of her co-defendant's husband and confronted her co-defendant in an attempt to get her co-defendant not to testify against her. Part of the conditions of Colvard's pre-trial release had required that Colvard have no contact, direct or indirect, with her co-defendant.

Smith said the government will investigate promptly and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law allegations of witness tampering in federal cases. If convicted of all five charges, Colvard faces up to 66 years in prison and fines of up to $1.25 million. A judge will consider other factors so the statutory maximum penalty is not an accurate indication of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom is prosecuting.

Colvard's detention hearing is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court.